Apparatus and system for a towed device powered by a tow vehicle

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a system directed to a towed device powered by a tow vehicle. The apparatus and system include a woodchipper configured to be mounted on a towed vehicle, with the towed vehicle configured to be towed behind the tow vehicle. Additionally, a motor may be coupled to the woodchipper to provide power to the woodchipper. A power converter obtains power from the tow vehicle from a power takeoff coupled to the tow vehicle. Further, one or more power transfer lines connect the power converter with the motor to communicate motor-operating power from the power converter to the motor.

RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, withregard to all common subject matter, of earlier filed U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/650,794, filed May 23, 2012, and entitled“APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR A TOWED DEVICE POWERED BY A TOW VEHICLE.” Theidentified earlier-filed provisional patent application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety into the presentnon-provisional application.

FIELD

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and a system for atowed device to be powered by a tow vehicle. In more detail, the presentinvention relates to a woodchipper, such as a wood, brush, and/or treechipper used in the tree care and disposal industry, which is towed by atow vehicle and which is further adapted for being powered by the towvehicle. Further embodiments relate to other implements requiring powerto operate, such as an aerial boom, a crane, a winch system, an auger, adigger derrick, or the like, to be powered by a tow vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Various styles of woodchipper systems for reducing trees, logs, andbrush into smaller woodchips have been known and used. However, moststyles of woodchipper systems are powered by dedicated gas ordiesel-powered combustion engines. Such combustions engines aregenerally large, heavy, and thus cumbersome to transport. In addition,combustion engines are often the most costly aspect of a woodchippersystem. Such costs are partly due to the price of the combustion engine,the price of fuel for the combustion engine, and the price required tomaintain the combustion engine according to increasingly stringentemission regulations. Further, because combustion engines includecomplex integrated components, such combustion engines requiresignificant amounts of time and money to service and repair the engines.Finally, combustion engines commonly output considerable amounts ofnoise pollution, which can be distracting and dangerous to users of thewoodchipper systems and/or bystanders.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention include an apparatus and a systemfor powering an implement, such as a woodchipper with a tow vehicle.Exemplary embodiments include a woodchipper configured to be mounted ona towed vehicle, with the towed vehicle configured to be towed behindthe tow vehicle. In certain embodiments, the tow vehicle and the towedvehicle are configured to operate on a highway at highway speeds.Embodiments additionally include a motor coupled to the woodchipper andoperable to provide power to a cutting mechanism of the woodchipper; apower takeoff coupled to the tow vehicle and operable to obtainmechanical power from the tow vehicle; a power converter engaged withthe power takeoff, with the power converter configured to convert themechanical power obtained by the power takeoff into a motor-operatingpower operable to power the motor attached to the woodchipper; and oneor more power transfer lines connecting the power converter with themotor and operable to communicate the motor-operating power from thepower converter to the motor.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the detaileddescription. This summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspectsand advantages of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanyingdrawing figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below withreference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of an engineless woodchipper systemaccording to embodiments of the present invention, including anengineless woodchipper being towed by a tow vehicle; and

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a hydraulic system for powering awoodchipper from a power takeoff affixed to a tow vehicle according toembodiments of the present invention.

The drawing figures do not limit the present invention to the specificembodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description of the invention references theaccompanying drawings that illustrate specific embodiments in which theinvention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describeaspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled inthe art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized andchanges can be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to betaken in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention is definedonly by the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents towhich such claims are entitled.

In this description, references to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or“embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to areincluded in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separatereferences to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or “embodiments” inthis description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and arealso not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Forexample, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment mayalso be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included.Thus, the present technology can include a variety of combinationsand/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.

With reference to the drawings, an engineless woodchipper system 10 forpowering a woodchipper 12 with power obtained from a tow vehicle 14 isillustrated in FIG. 1. The engineless woodchipper system 10 broadlycomprises the woodchipper 12 configured to be mounted on a towed vehicle16, with the towed vehicle configured to be towed behind the towvehicle; a motor 18 coupled to the woodchipper and operable to providepower to a cutting mechanism of the woodchipper; a power takeoff 20coupled to the tow vehicle and operable to obtain mechanical power fromthe tow vehicle; a power converter 22 engaged with the power takeoff,with the power converter configured to convert the mechanical powerobtained by the power takeoff into a motor-operating power operable topower the motor; and one or more power transfer lines 24 connecting thepower converter with the motor and operable to communicate themotor-operating power from the power converter to the motor. Byconnecting the components of the engineless woodchipper system 10 asdescribed above, the woodchipper 12 can be powered by the tow vehicle14, such that the woodchipper does not require its own dedicatedcombustion engine for powering the cutting mechanism and/or otherauxiliary components of the woodchipper.

As used herein, the woodchipper 12 may broadly include any type ofmachine or device that reduces wood (e.g., trees, limbs, brush, etc.)into smaller woodchips. The woodchipper 12 generally includes an inlethopper for receiving wood into the woodchipper; a cutting mechanism,such as a rotary cutting disc, a drum blade, or a screw blade, whichoperates to reduce the received wood into smaller woodchips; and adischarge chute for ejecting the smaller woodchips from the woodchipper.In certain other embodiments, the woodchipper 12 may include additionalassociated components such as feed rollers for assisting the wood as thewood is introduced into the woodchipper and lift cylinders for raisingor lowering the feed rollers and/or cutting mechanics as the wood isbeing reduced. In particular, the lift cylinders may provide assistancefor clearing received wood that is clogging the cutting mechanism.Further, the woodchipper 12 may include a mechanical flywheel or othersimilar component for storing energy and providing the stored energy tothe cutting mechanism of the woodchipper or other associated componentsas needed.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the powering of a toweddevice other than a woodchipper. In particular, although a woodchipperis described herein as the exemplary towed device, embodiments of thepresent invention additionally include powering other systems or devicesfrom a tow vehicle. Such other systems or devices may include, forinstance, an aerial boom, a crane, a winch system, a plow blade, anauger, a digger derrick, or the like. Therefore, the description hereinof the exemplary woodchipper should not be considered as limiting.

The tow vehicle 14 broadly includes any vehicle that is operable to towthe towed vehicle 16 and woodchipper 12 and that is further operable toprovide power for the woodchipper to operate. In certain embodiments,the tow vehicle 14 may be a conventional diesel or gasoline-poweredutility truck adapted for use in the tree care industry and may include,for example, a covered bed for collecting and hauling refuse, as well astowing attachments and accessories for connecting to and pulling towedvehicles. The tow vehicle 14 includes the necessary components forcoupling to the power takeoff 20. The power takeoff may be coupled tothe tow vehicle's transmission, which may be automatic or manual, or inother embodiments, to the tow vehicle's engine. The power takeoff 20 iscoupled to the tow vehicle 14 in such a manner that the power takeoffobtains mechanical energy from the tow vehicle. For instance, the powertakeoff 20 may include a gear assembly that engages with gears includedin the tow vehicle's 14 transmission. In such an embodiment, the towvehicle's 14 transmission can transmit mechanical power to the gearassembly of the power takeoff 20, which in turn transmits mechanicalenergy to a drive shaft of the power takeoff. In addition to such amechanical linkage, the power takeoff 20 may be linked to the towvehicle 14 via pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical linkages.Furthermore, the power takeoff 20 described above is one exemplarymethod of deriving power from the tow vehicle 14. Other methods may beused to obtain power from the tow vehicle 14, such as by including adrive shaft connected directly to the tow vehicle's engine crank shaft.

The towed vehicle 16 is configured to support the woodchipper 12,including the cutting mechanism and all associated components andstructure, such as the motor 18, the feed rollers, the lift cylinders,and the discharge chute. Because the towed vehicle 16 is configured tobe pulled behind the tow vehicle 14, the towed vehicle is not requiredto have its own power source. Both the tow vehicle 14 and the towedvehicle 16 (and therefore, the woodchipper 12 or other poweredimplement) are built to be driven on all common roadways at normaltraffic speeds. Therefore, the tow vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 16are built to conform to all laws and regulations governing thefunctionality of vehicles to be used on such roadways, such as height,width and weight limits, the configuration and placement of vehiclelights, turn signals, emergency signals, emissions standards, safetyfeatures such as seat belts, and so forth. Furthermore, the tow vehicle14 and the towed vehicle 16 are built to safely travel at normalhighways speeds, such as sixty or seventy miles per hour. However,additional embodiments of the present invention may provide for the towvehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 16 to operate in off-highwayconditions. For instance, the tow vehicle 14 and the towed vehicle 16may be required to operate on off-highway terrain, such as dirt roads,roadsides, yards, hills, or other forms of right-of-ways.

In additional embodiments, the tow vehicle 14 may include othercomponents that are powered by the tow vehicle, such as an aerial boom26, stabilizers 28, a crane (not shown), a winch system (not shown),plow blades (not shown), augers (not shown), or the like. In suchembodiments, the components of the engineless woodchipper system 10 thatare coupled with the tow vehicle 14 and that are used to power thewoodchipper 12 (i.e., the power takeoff 20 and the power converter 22)may be separate and isolated from other systems on the tow vehicle, suchas hydraulic or electrical systems, that are used to power the other towvehicle components (e.g., aerial boom 26, stabilizer 28, etc.). By thusseparating the engineless woodchipper system 10 of the present inventionfrom other systems on the tow vehicle 14, the engineless woodchippersystem may be operated and maintained independently of such othersystems. It will be appreciated, however, that the enginelesswoodchipper system 10 used to power the woodchipper 12 may also beintegral with or otherwise associated with the other systems of the towvehicle 14 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention provide for the remainingcomponents of the engineless woodchipper system 10 (i.e., the motor 18,the power converter 22, and the one or more power transfer lines 24) toeach have multiple embodiments depending on the preferred type of powerused for operating the woodchipper 12. For instance, in certainembodiments, the woodchipper may be powered by hydraulic power, suchthat the remaining components are directed to a hydraulic system withhydraulic components. In other embodiments, the woodchipper may bepowered by electrical power, such that the remaining components aredirected to an electrical system with electrical components. Althoughembodiments discussed in more detail below will generally be directed toeither hydraulic or electrical systems, it is understood thatembodiments of the present invention may include other systems, such asmechanical systems, that are operable to transmit power to thewoodchipper 12 from the tow vehicle 14.

An exemplary hydraulic system 30 for use in the engineless woodchippersystem 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The hydraulic system 30 includes thepower converter 22 in the form of a hydraulic pump that is operable toconvert the mechanical power from the power takeoff 20 into hydraulicpower (i.e., pressurized hydraulic fluid); the motor 18 in the form of ahydraulic motor that is operable to power the cutting mechanism of thewoodchipper 12 by converting the hydraulic power (i.e., the pressurizedhydraulic fluid) from the hydraulic pump back into mechanical power; andthe power transfer lines 24 in the form of hydraulic fluid lines thatconnect the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and communicatetherebetween the pressurized hydraulic fluid. In certain embodiments,the hydraulic pump may include a variable displacement hydraulic pump,such as an axial piston pump, a variable vane pump, or a bent-axis pump,which allows for the displacement of hydraulic fluid to be varied whilethe hydraulic pump is running. In other embodiments, the hydraulic pumpmay include a constant displacement pump, such as a gear pump, a fixedvane pump, or a screw pump, which allows for the displacement ofhydraulic fluid to be held constant while the hydraulic pump is running.Embodiments of the present invention further provide for the hydraulicmotors, which may be of similar types as the hydraulic pumps (i.e.,axial piston, gear, vane, bent-axis, screw, etc.), to be either variableor constant output, as may be required to implement embodiments of thepresent invention.

In certain embodiments, it may be beneficial for the hydraulic system 30to include a variable displacement hydraulic pump along with a variableoutput hydraulic motor. Such embodiments may, in certain instances, beoperationally more efficient than a constant displacement gear-typehydraulic pump used along with a constant output hydraulic motor. As anexample, the variable displacement hydraulic pump may be configured toconsistently operate at an elevated operating pressure. By maintainingan elevated operational pressure, the variable displacement hydraulicpump is only required to produce a high volume displacement when suchhigh volume displacement is needed by the variable output hydraulicmotor to maintain the woodchipper's 12 cutting mechanism at requiredrotations speeds. The variable displacement hydraulic pump can increasedisplacement by increasing a stroking distance (i.e., stroking) ofpistons within the pump. The variable displacement hydraulic pump canadditionally reduce displacement by de-stroking the pistons to provideless displacement when the cutting mechanism does not requiresubstantial power to maintain rotational speed, which results in moreefficient operation and may generate less heat that requiresdissipation. For instance, a high displacement of hydraulic fluid may berequired when the woodchipper 12 has received a large piece of wood,such that the cutting mechanism needs substantial power to maintain therotational speed necessary to reduce the wood into smaller wood chips.However, when the woodchipper 12 is not receiving wood, and is thusidling, a high displacement from the variable displacement hydraulicpump is not required. In such embodiments, the hydraulic system 30 doesnot require any electronic feedback (e.g., chipper power, torque orspeed demands) to be supplied to the variable displacement hydraulicpump. Instead, the displacement of the variable displacement hydraulicpump may be controlled by simply monitoring the variable displacementhydraulic pump's own output pressure. By maintaining a high operatingpressure, the variable displacement hydraulic pump is always outputtingthe minimum flow needed to sustain the speed of the cutting mechanism.In certain embodiments, the variable output hydraulic motor may berequired to include a speed control algorithm, which is used to adjust astroke of the variable output hydraulic motor while driving the cuttingmechanism of the woodchipper 12. Such a control algorithm may berequired to insure that the variable output hydraulic motor maintainsthe cutting mechanism's required rotational speed.

As an alternative embodiment, the hydraulic system 30 may include avariable displacement hydraulic pump with a power limitation control(e.g., torque and/or pressure control), which can be used in conjunctionwith a constant output hydraulic motor to power the cutting mechanism.In certain instances, such an embodiment may provide a more efficientmethod of powering the cutting mechanism, as the variable displacementhydraulic pump is required to displace only the amount of hydraulicfluid necessary to power the constant output hydraulic motor. Inaddition to the variable displacement hydraulic pump with the variableoutput hydraulic motor and the variable displacement hydraulic pump withthe constant output hydraulic motor, as were described above, thehydraulic system 30 of embodiments of the present invention may includea constant displacement hydraulic pump with the variable outputhydraulic motor and a constant displacement hydraulic pump with theconstant output hydraulic motor.

In even further embodiments, the hydraulic pump and/or hydraulic motormay include an automated de-stroking feature. In the event the supplyline becomes obstructed during operation, the hydraulic pump and/or thehydraulic motor may sense the pressure of the hydraulic fluid beginningto rise above a threshold level and will de-stroke before dangerouspressure levels are reached. Such a de-stroking capability may help toavoid a blowout or component failure. In further embodiments, theautomated de-stroking feature may be embodied in the form of anemergency stop switch, which can be implemented by a user of embodimentsof the present invention to rapidly shut down operation of thewoodchipper 12.

The hydraulic system 30 may additionally include the power transferlines 24 in the form of hydraulic fluid lines for communicating thepressurized hydraulic fluid, and thus hydraulic power, between thehydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. In certain embodiments, such ashydraulic system 30, there may be at least two hydraulic fluid lines, soas to include a hydraulic fluid feed line and a hydraulic fluid returnline. The hydraulic fluid lines may generally be flexible, such thatwhen unused, the hydraulic fluid lines may be wrapped-up into a smallvolume for storage and transport.

In certain embodiments, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, the hydraulicsystem 30 may include one or more connectors for connecting variouscomponents of the hydraulic system. The one or more connectors mayinclude hydraulic quick-connect connectors 32 for connecting thehydraulic fluid lines to other hydraulic fluid lines, the hydraulicpump, and/or the hydraulic motor. The hydraulic quick-connect connectors32 are operable to allow a user of embodiments of the present inventionto quickly connect and disconnect the hydraulic fluid lines, by hand,with other components of the hydraulic system 30. In certainembodiments, the hydraulic quick-connect connectors 32 may be includedon ends of the hydraulic fluid lines and the hydraulic pump, such thatthe hydraulic motor on the woodchipper 12 can be quickly connected, viathe hydraulic fluid lines, with the hydraulic pump on the tow vehicle14. However, as previously described, the hydraulic quick-connectconnectors 32 may be included on multiple components of the hydraulicsystem 30, as necessary.

In further embodiments, the hydraulic system 30 may include one or morehydraulic accumulators 34. The hydraulic accumulators 34, along with theflywheel (if included) of the woodchipper 12, operates to store energyand provide such stored energy to the cutting mechanism of thewoodchipper 12 or other component as needed. In particular, thehydraulic accumulator 34 and/or flywheel may allow for more constantloading of the hydraulic pump and/or hydraulic motor, which may resultin more efficient operation.

In yet further embodiments, the hydraulic system 30 may include one ormore hydraulic reservoirs 36 for storing the hydraulic fluid necessaryfor operation of the hydraulic system and one or more cooling systems 38for maintaining operational temperatures of the hydraulic system.Embodiments of the present invention provide for each of theaccumulator, reservoir, and cooling system to be integrated with thehydraulic system 30 at the tow vehicle 14 or at the woodchipper 12(i.e., on the towed vehicle 16). The hydraulic system 30 mayadditionally include additional components as may be required for properoperation of the hydraulic system, such as additional hydraulic lines orhoses, additional hydraulic reservoirs, hydraulic valves, additionalhydraulic pumps or motors, filters, or the like. Although the hydraulicsystem 30, as shown in FIG. 2, illustrates specific placement ofcomponents of the hydraulic system 30, it is understood that such anillustration is exemplary, and embodiments of the present inventioninclude additional placements of the components that performsubstantially the same function in substantially the same way.

The hydraulic system 30 included in the engineless woodchipper system10, as described above, may be used to drive the chipper cuttingmechanism on the woodchipper 12 as well as auxiliary components andfunctions of the woodchipper, such as feed rollers, lift cylinders,discharge chute, or the like. Alternatively, a second hydraulic pump maybe used simultaneously with the first hydraulic pump described above. Insuch an embodiment, the first hydraulic pump provides hydraulic power tothe hydraulic motor powering the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper12, and the second hydraulic pump provides power to the auxiliarycomponents of the woodchipper. The second hydraulic pump may be mountedin tandem with the first hydraulic pump to be driven by the powertakeoff 20, or the second hydraulic pump may be driven by a separate,second power takeoff. By way of example, the first hydraulic pump mayprovide power to a first hydraulic motor that drives only the cuttingmechanism of the woodchipper 12, while the second hydraulic pump mayprovide power to a separate, second hydraulic motor, that drives theauxiliary components (e.g., the feed roller, the lift cylinder, etc.) ofthe woodchipper. In the above example, the two hydraulic pumps and twohydraulic cylinders may be completely isolated, or may be partiallyisolated wherein they share a hydraulic fluid return path. A system withtwo hydraulic pumps driven by separate power takeoffs has the advantageof enabling operation of the auxiliary components of the woodchipper, orother non-woodchipper components, even when the cutting mechanism isobstructed or otherwise not operational.

In addition to the hydraulic system 30, the engineless woodchippersystem 10 may be implemented via an electrical system. The electricalsystem may include the power converter 22 in the form of an electricgenerator that is operable to convert the mechanical power from thepower takeoff 20 into electrical power (i.e., electrical current andvoltage); the motor 18 in the form of an electric motor that is operableto power the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper 12 by converting theelectrical power (i.e., the electrical current and voltage) from theelectric generator back into mechanical power; and the power transferlines 24 in the form of electrically conductive cables that connect theelectric generator to the electric motor and communicate therebetweenthe electrical power. In certain embodiments, the electric generator mayinclude a generator control system, such as an AC drive, a variablefrequency drive, a voltage regulator, an excitation control, arectifier, or the like, which allows for an output of the electricgenerator (i.e., electrical current and/or voltage) to be controlledwhile the electric generator is running. In other embodiments, theelectric generator may not include the generator control system, suchthat the output of the electric generator is based solely on themechanical power obtained from the power takeoff 20 and adesign/construction of the electric generator. Embodiments of thepresent invention further provide for the electric motor to include amotor control system, such as an AC drive, a variable frequency drive, arectifier, a DC drive, or the like, which may be used to control thedirection, speed, and/or torque output of the electric motor. Inadditional embodiments, the electric motor may not include the motorcontrol system, such that the direction, speed, and/or torque output ofthe electric motor is dependent only on the power received from theelectric generator and a design of the electric motor. Embodiments ofthe present invention include any combination of electric generator,electric motor, and/or their respective control systems. For instance,embodiments may include: the electric generator in combination with theelectric motor; the electric generator and generator control system incombination with the electric motor; the electric generator incombination with the electric motor and motor control system; and theelectric generator and generator control system in combination with theelectric motor and motor control system. In addition and as will bedescribed below, embodiments of the present invention may include theuse of multiple electric generators, electric motors, and/or controlsystems.

As described above, the electrical system may include the one or morepower transfer lines 24 in the form of electrically conductive cables(“electric cables”) for communicating the electric power between theelectric generator and the electric motor. The electric cables maygenerally be flexible, such that when unused, the electric cables may bewrapped-up into a small volume for storage and transport. In certainembodiments, the electrical system may include one or more connectorsfor connecting various components of the electrical system. The one ormore connectors may include electrical quick-connect connectors forconnecting the electric cables to other electric cables, the electricgenerator, and/or the electric motor. The electric quick-connectconnectors are operable to allow a user of embodiments of the presentinvention to quickly connect and disconnect the electric cables, byhand, with other components of the electrical system. In certainembodiments, the electric quick-connect connectors may be included onends of the electric cables and the electric generator, such that theelectric motor on the woodchipper 12 can be quickly connected, via theelectric cables, with the electric generator on the tow vehicle 14.However, as previously described, the electric quick-connect connectorsmay be included on multiple components of the electric system, asnecessary.

In further embodiments, the electrical system may include one or moreelectric accumulators, such as batteries and/or capacitors. The electricaccumulators, along with the flywheel (if included) of the woodchipper12, operate to store energy and provide such stored energy to thecutting mechanism of the woodchipper 12 or other component as needed. Inparticular, the electric accumulator and/or flywheel may allow for moreconstant loading of the electric generator and/or electric motor,resulting in more efficient operation. In further embodiments, theelectrical system may include an emergency stop switch, which can beimplemented by a user of embodiments of the present invention to rapidlyshut down operation of the woodchipper 12.

In yet further embodiments, the electrical system may include one ormore cooling systems for maintaining operational temperature of theelectrical system. Embodiments of the present invention provide for eachof the electric accumulator and cooling system to be integrated with theelectrical system at the tow vehicle 14 or at the woodchipper 12 (i.e.,on the towed vehicle 16).

The electrical system may further include additional componentsnecessary for supporting operation of the electric generator, theelectric motor, and conveying electrical power via the electricalcables. Such additional components may include, for example,microcontrollers or similar control devices, additional electrical powerand transmission lines, fuses or circuit breakers, voltage regulators,rectifiers, inverters, diode bridges, SCR bridges, and one or moreconnectors for connecting various components of the electrical system.In even further embodiments, the electrical system may include othersources of electrical power. For instance, the electrical system mayinclude one or more additional electric power sources, such aselectrical generators, rechargeable battery packs, or solar power units,which may each be located on the tow vehicle 14 or the towed vehicle 16.Such one or more additional electric power sources may facilitate thecontinued operation of the woodchipper 12, or other components, when thetow vehicle 14 or the electric generator attached to the tow vehicle arein need of repair or otherwise become inoperable.

The electrical system included in the engineless woodchipper system 10,as described above, may be used to drive the chipper cutting mechanismon the woodchipper 12 as well as auxiliary components and functions ofthe woodchipper, such as feed rollers, lift cylinders, discharge chute,or the like. Alternatively, a second electric generator may be usedsimultaneously with the first electric generator described above. Insuch an embodiment, the first electric generator provides electric powerto the electric motor powering the cutting mechanism of the woodchipper12, and the second electric generator provides power to the auxiliarycomponents of the woodchipper. The second electric generator may bemounted in tandem with the first electric generator to be driven by thepower takeoff 20, or the second electric generator may be driven by aseparate, second power takeoff. By way of example, the first electricgenerator may provide power to a first electric motor that drives onlythe cutting mechanism of the woodchipper 12, while the second electricgenerator may provide power to a separate, second electric motor, thatdrives the auxiliary components (e.g., the feed roller, the liftcylinder, etc.) of the woodchipper. In the above example, the twoelectric generators and two electric motors may be completely isolated,or may be partially isolated wherein they share similar electricalcables. A system with two electric generators driven by separate powertakeoffs has the advantage of enabling operation of the auxiliarycomponents of the woodchipper, or other non-woodchipper components, evenwhen the cutting mechanism is obstructed or otherwise not operational.

Although this invention has been described with its preferredembodiment(s), it is noted that equivalents may be employed andsubstitutions made herein without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what isclaimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includesthe following:
 1. An engineless woodchipper system for powering awoodchipper with a tow vehicle, comprising: a woodchipper configured tobe mounted on a towed vehicle, wherein the towed vehicle is configuredto be towed behind the tow vehicle, wherein the tow vehicle and thetowed vehicle are configured to operate on a highway at highway speeds;a motor coupled to the woodchipper and operable to provide power to acutting mechanism of the woodchipper; a power takeoff coupled to the towvehicle and operable to obtain mechanical power from the tow vehicle; apower converter engaged with the power takeoff, wherein the powerconverter is configured to convert the mechanical power obtained by thepower takeoff into a motor-operating power operable to power the motorattached to the woodchipper; and one or more power transfer linesconnecting the power converter with the motor and operable tocommunicate the motor-operating power from the power converter to themotor.
 2. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1, wherein themotor is further operable to power auxiliary components of thewoodchipper, including one or more of the following: a feed roller, alift cylinder, and a discharge chute.
 3. The engineless woodchippersystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more power transfer lines iscoupled to the motor via a quick-connect connector operable to allow auser to quickly couple the one or more power transfer lines to the motorusing only one or more of the user's hands.
 4. The enginelesswoodchipper system of claim 1, wherein the motor attached to thewoodchipper is a hydraulic motor.
 5. The engineless woodchipper systemof claim 4, wherein the hydraulic motor is selected from a variableoutput motor or a fixed output motor.
 6. The engineless woodchippersystem of claim 1, wherein the power converter is a hydraulic pump. 7.The engineless woodchipper system of claim 6, wherein the hydraulic pumpis selected from a variable displacement pump or a fixed displacementpump.
 8. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more power transfer lines are hydraulic hoses.
 9. The enginelesswoodchipper system of claim 1, wherein the motor attached to thewoodchipper is an electric motor.
 10. The engineless woodchipper systemof claim 9, wherein the electric motor includes a control system forcontrolling one or more of the following: a speed of the motor, a torqueof the motor, and a direction of the motor.
 11. The enginelesswoodchipper system of claim 1, wherein the power converter is anelectric generator.
 12. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 11,wherein the electric generator includes a control system for controllingan output of the electric generator.
 13. The engineless woodchippersystem of claim 1, wherein the one or more power transfer lines areelectric cables.
 14. An engineless woodchipper system for powering awoodchipper with a tow vehicle, comprising: a woodchipper configured tobe mounted on a towed vehicle, wherein the towed vehicle is configuredto be towed behind the tow vehicle, wherein the tow vehicle and thetowed vehicle are configured to operate on a highway at highway speeds;a hydraulic motor coupled to the woodchipper and operable to providepower to a cutting mechanism of the woodchipper; a power takeoff coupledto the tow vehicle and operable to obtain mechanical power from the towvehicle; a hydraulic pump engaged with the power takeoff, wherein thehydraulic pump is configured to convert the mechanical power obtained bythe power takeoff into hydraulic power operable to power the hydraulicmotor attached to the woodchipper; and one or more hydraulic fluid linesconnecting the hydraulic pump with the hydraulic motor and operable tocommunicate the hydraulic power from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulicmotor.
 15. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 14, wherein thehydraulic motor is further operable to power auxiliary components of thewoodchipper, including one or more of the following: a feed roller, alift cylinder, and a discharge chute.
 16. The engineless woodchippersystem of claim 14, wherein the hydraulic motor is selected from avariable output motor or a fixed output motor.
 17. The enginelesswoodchipper system of claim 14, wherein the hydraulic pump is selectedfrom a variable displacement pump or a fixed displacement pump.
 18. Anengineless woodchipper system for powering a woodchipper with a towvehicle, comprising: a woodchipper configured to be mounted on a towedvehicle, wherein the towed vehicle is configured to be towed behind thetow vehicle, wherein the tow vehicle and the towed vehicle areconfigured to operate on a highway at highway speeds; an electric motorcoupled to the woodchipper and operable to provide power to a cuttingmechanism of the woodchipper; a power takeoff coupled to the tow vehicleand operable to obtain mechanical power from the tow vehicle; anelectric generator engaged with the power takeoff, wherein the electricgenerator is configured to convert the mechanical power obtained by thepower takeoff into electrical power operable to power the electric motorattached to the woodchipper; and one or more power electric cablesconnecting the electric generator with the electric motor and operableto communicate the electrical power from the electric generator to theelectric motor.
 19. The engineless woodchipper system of claim 18,wherein the electric motor includes a control system for controlling oneor more of the following: a speed of the motor, a torque of the motor,and a direction of the motor.
 20. The engineless woodchipper system ofclaim 18, wherein the electric generator includes a control system forcontrolling an output of the electric generator.